NYS Music 20​19

Category: Regions

  • Runaway Gin – a Tribute to Phish – adds 2020 Winter Tour Dates, perform at Knitting Factory on December 26

    Runaway Gin – a Tribute to Phish – has announced their ‘Ophishal YEMSG pre-party’ in New York City on Thursday, December 26. Hosted by Facebook groups Phish Chicks, PHISH TOUR 2014, and GrooveSafe, the event will feature two sets of “Evil Phish” starting at 8:00 pm. Kicking off the night will be special guests Space Junk is Forever. Peak Builders Network will host a meet-up at 7:00pm and hold a raffle to benefit the non-profit GrooveSafe, who also receive a portion of each ticket sale.

    runaway gin 2020 winter

    The Charleston, SC based quartet Runaway Gin has also announced that they will now be extending to a 19-date 2020 Winter Tour. The tour begins Friday, January 10th at the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA and then returns the band to Nashville, TN for a debut at the Mercy Lounge the following night. The following weekend Gin will make their long awaited Colorado debut with a 2 night-run in Steamboat Springs Thursday and Friday nights followed by a Saturday show in Denver at Cervantes.

    Saturday, February 8th returns the band to their home venue: the Charleston Pour House. At the end of February the band will return to the Orpheum in Tampa, FL as well as Revolution Live in Ft, Lauderdale, FL. The first weekend in March brings the Charleston based tribute up to Portland, ME for a debut show at PHOME, a Boston debut at Brighton Music Hall, and a Hartford, CT debut at Arch Street Tavern. 

    The end of March brings the band north again for a return to the Ardmore Music Hall just outside of Philadelphia, PA and a Pittsburgh debut at Thunderbird Music Hall. Returns to the Pour House Music Hall in Raleigh, NC and the Broadberry in Richmond, VA close out this tour. 

    The band has also just released full show soundboards from their Norva debut November 29th containing both a 30 plus minute “You Enjoy My Frankenstein” and a 24 minute “Runaway Jim” on the anniversary of Phish’s longest jam, the ‘Worcester Centrum Jim.’

  • Eastbound Jesus Will Play Release Show at Cohoes Music Hall

    Greenwich, NY natives Eastbound Jesus is set to release a new studio album, Full Moon Over Salem, on February 1 in celebration of their new album, for a a one-night performance at The Cohoes Music Hall at 8 p.m.

    eastbound jesus cohoes

    Carl Anderson (drummer/vocals) said of the release, “Full Moon Over Salem will be our first album in close to five years. We spent four years writing and performing these tracks before spending the last year recording it. After releasing four albums in five years it was important for us to take our time with this one and continue to push ourselves musically. It’s always been a goal to elevate our songwriting while remaining true to our signature Eastbound Jesus sound. Over the past year we have picked away at the songs, playing around with pedals and amps to find new tones, and trying different recording styles to elevate the compositions. We gave ourselves the time to bring in a number of guest musicians, and to really work through each track sometimes changing and re-recording our parts to get them where we wanted them. Now it’s time to put the album out there and hopefully everyone will appreciate all the work that has gone into it.”

    Comprised of six friends the self-titled “Northern Rock” band has previously released four studio and one live album. Fans have seen them around the region at venues like The Palace Theatre and Alive at Five. For the past several years they have also partnered with Greg Bell of Guthrie/Bell Productions to host a two-day music and camping festival called Eastbound Throwdown on Irwin Farm in Salem, NY.

    Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here.

  • Swinging into SPAC for an Evening of Dance

    It’s not every day you get an education and a show in one sitting, much less for free. But Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) is full of surprises — that’s because they love their proud little city. That much was obvious on Thursday, December 12, when I set foot onto the glorious ballroom floor at the Hall of Springs for Winter of 2019’s Freihofer’s “Live at the Jazz Bar: Swing Night.”

    Chris Shiley, SPAC’s Senior Director of Artistic Planning, said this is their third winter doing Live at the Jazz Bar nights. Winter’s evenings are seldom. In the summertime, however, Live at the Jazz Bar happens once a month, typically rotating themes from swing, Latin, and ballroom dances, all of which are preceded with a lesson. Winter Jazz Bar nights are geared toward getting the greater Saratoga community out to have a good time and raise awareness of SPAC’s upcoming activities.

    SPAC Evening of Dance

    The Hall of Springs boasts 38-foot ceilings, from which hung three
    crystal chandeliers that twinkled from the gold and red lights shooting up the sides of the Tuscan columns from projectors. Annie and the Hedonists, a tight band of five specializing in swing and blues of the ’20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s, had a modest setup on the floor’s center. Around it, dancers young and old gathered for pre-performance dance lessons lead by Tango Fusion Dance Studio’s Johnny Martinez and Diane Lachtrupp.

    Martinez began the session by teaching each individual the triple step. It was simple enough: 1-2-3 tiny steps to the right, 1-2-3 steps left, then a rock on your right foot, and repeat. It was time to grab a partner. I faded into the background, knowing I had come alone. But assistant Jennifer Emmons beckoned me to return to the floor and take her hand. I complied, but flushed red, convinced that I would literally be stepping on her toes.

    SPAC Evening of Dance

    I did not. Jen was a very good teacher. She had been training to instruct at the studio after having spent five years as a dedicated swing dancer. Apart from my occasional misstep, Jen taught me how to keep up with her. By the end of the lesson, we were effortlessly scuttling one direction, then another, then spinning apart and coming back together.

    “Dancing is like a language,” she told me—a motto of the studio, I later learned from Diane Lachtrupp. “Once you learn, you can dance with anyone.” The follower, usually a woman, needs to listen to the leader (usually a man, though in this case, I was following Jen’s lead) so that the conversation can keep going.

    SPAC Evening of Dance

    The lesson was over and the band began to play. The songs performed by Annie and the Hedonists were a perfect compliment to what the room just learned. Dancers in pairs bounded about the floor, swinging in and out and back and forth. The band kept the crowd guessing as they jumped from classics like “Blue Light Boogie” to “Walk Right In, Walk Right Out;” then to “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm,” each tune matched the energy in the room.

    Lead vocalist Annie Rosen was complimented by guitarist Jonny Rosen, bassist Don Young, and Peter Davis on keyboard and saxophone. No feet hid underneath tablecloths. Even those who weren’t dancing stood and bobbed their heads to the catchy tunes. A favorite of Annie and the Hedonists is to interpret the music of early female jazz vocalists such as Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald, both of whom were represented beautifully by the passion in Annie Rosen’s voice during the performance.

    The next Freihofer’s Night at the Jazz Bar has yet to be scheduled. But Mr.
    Shiley has assured that SPAC will be scheduling it once they finish out 2019. For more information on events at SPAC, please join their mailing list. For more information on Tango Fusion Dance Studio events, email stepdl@aol.com. To learn more about Annie and the Hedonists visit their website.

    Review and photos by Jenn March

  • Skeeter Creek Draws Crowd for Madison Theater Reopening

    Many braved frigid temperatures Thursday night for the grand reopening of Madison Theater to see Skeeter Creek. Some were in attendance to support the neighborhood landmark, while others were excited to see the new Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. What was really the hot ticket for the night was the much anticipated performance of Capital Region’s favorite country band, Skeeter Creek.

    The four space heaters around the stage barely fought back the cold.

    Taking the stage at 5:30 PM, Skeeter Creek drew in a large crowd and rocked the house despite the freezing temperatures. Starting with a Brooks & Dunn classic “Brand New Man,” for the next hour and a half the popular cover band tackled songs from Toby Keith, Luke Bryan, Darius Rucker and threw in a few classic rock songs including a crowd favorite “Jack and Diane” from 80s rocker John Mellencamp.

    Fans consumed hot dogs, burgers and drinks provided by Mike’s on a Roll food truck while huddled around the several large space heaters outside. Inside the theater one could grab variety of alcoholic beverages at the theater’s new bar.

    A ribbon cutting ceremony led by Honorable Owusu Anane – Councilman for the 10th Ward, had several including John Clarkson the Pine Hills Neighborhood Association President and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan reminiscing on their experiences at the Madison Theater.

    “The Madison Theater was a gathering place for the Pine Hills Neighborhood even back when it was a one screen theater. It is great to see everyone who has come together to revive the local landmark” said Sheehan.

    Albany native Kevin Parisi of Trinity Realty Group, the building’s new owners. and the theater’s general manager Kris Kiesling were presented with plaques from Sheehan and Albany County Legislature Representative Raymond Joyce (D), deeming December 19 Madison Theater Day not only for the city of Albany but also for the county.

    Kris Kiesling (L) and Kevin Parisi (R)

    Kris Kiesling told NYS Music of the changes slated for the theater. Movie goers will be able to order food, take their seats and the food will be delivered by waiting staff while they are watching a movie. There will also be a lounge area with a bar, along with a full-service restaurant called The Box Office, Keisling said.

    Future plans of the theater also include a space for comedy shows and a performance stage for bands slated to be able to accommodate up to 500 people. This is conjunction to the four screens that will also be playing the newest movies.

    Never before has the theater served as a performance venue and there is nothing like it that exists in the Capital Region.

    “Parisi, the entire team and I are excited to bring the Madison Theater back to not only it’s same but a better glory. We are all on the same page with the Neighborhood Association and are going to be establishing the Madison Theater as more than a venue to watch movies at. This is going to be a entertainment space. We want people to be able to come here and hang out, feel part of the neighborhood.”

    Kris Kiesling, Madison Theatre GM

    Kiesling also said that they will be taking over and re branding the Cosmic Theater in Hudson, NY as a Madison Theater.

    The Madison Theater has been open since the 1920s making it Albany’s oldest theater still in operation. It has experienced periods of darkness before. About 15 years ago the theater was shuttered for some time according to Anne Savage, City of Albany’s School Board President, “a few hundred people braved a blizzard then to meet in attempts to reopen the theater”.

    During it’s most recent two year closure the Madison Theater went through many hands including Cosmic Cinemas before they went out of business the Times Union reported last month.

  • Governors Ball anticipates move to the Bronx

    Governors Ball may be moving to the Bronx in the future, relocating from Randall’s Island to Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx. While the festival has been denied a permit to move locations in 2020, the company behind the festival made a pitch to members of Bronx Communty Board 8 last week.

    governors ball bronx

    Concerns over the event’s size and duration were part of turning down the move in the past, but organizers are now appealing that decision. With 50,000 people expected to attend the June 5-7 festival each day, a relocation would need to factor in the strain on local infrastructure caused by the arrival of the GovBall crowd.

    Recently, a new age policy was revealed, as well as an updated VIP experience. The festival says regarding raising the minimum age from 18 to 21, “In a change from previous years, for the 2020 festival all persons 18 and over are welcome at the festival, but a valid proof of ID is required for entry. All persons aged 17 and under MUST attend with an adult who is 21 or older. Each adult must have a valid form of ID and may accompany up to TWO ticket holders aged 17 or younger.”

    Governor’s Ball also unveiled an updated VIP experience, offering access to special viewing areas, as well as air-conditioned, flushable bathrooms; a private wi-fi network; a separate lane at ferry docks and shuttle pick-up points; free water at VIP areas and more.

  • Brooklyn Bowl Nashville, Coming Soon

    Brooklyn Bowl opens the doors to its new location in Nashville, Tennessee this spring. The grand opening on March, 14 features a performance by Bowlive with Soulive and George Porter Jr. More than 30 shows were announced for this spring, including acts like Twiddle, Toots and The Maytals, and Carseat Headrest. Tickets are on sale now.

    Brooklyn Bowl Nashville

    The 1,200 capacity live music venue will also be home to four bars and nineteen bowling alleys over it’s two stories. The owners maintain that it will retain the same aesthetic as the original Brooklyn Bowl.

    • Built in Breakdance